Hey mate,

I'd highly consider the 7'10 if you want a to progress. The 7'10 is super stable for me I'm sitting around 95kg. It catches waves easily but can be hard if it's a little windy, this is where a slightly bigger board seems to help.

The hipster is great if you want a fast loose board. I tend to surf fairly aggressive and the hipster allows some fantastic top and bottom turns. I let my mate use my board on the weekend and now he wants one too!

I've noticed when the surf gets quite big and punchy the 7'10 hipster tends to skip down the wave face a bit when you drop into a big bomb but you do get used to that and its only when you are really hooking. MY 8'5 x 30 hipster does not seem to do it.

Thanks for the detailed feedback both!

In terms of style and board shape I'm not sure what I want as I'm a pretty rubbish prone surfer and come from a windsurfing wavesailing background. I'm still struggling a bit with SUP top turns...think my brain still wants a windsurf boom and straps to leverage around!

How does the blurr2 ride compared to the JP...what does that round tail translate?

And is the hipster twin totally.different feel to anything else out there...super loose right?

In the Gong line, I would recommend the Karmen for your level.

The Karmen has a kind of "autopilot" shape that basically chooses the most efficient trajectory in turns for you. So it is quite easy to maintain a nice carving flow with it. Plus the semi-pulled-in nose and tail provide good stability while not being cumbersome or slow to paddle. The Karmen will show you how to surf well :-)

Shape-wise, the Karmen has a "planing rail" in the tail section: it is a bit boxy, with a facet (vertical wall) that makes it act as a (small) planing surface once on the rail, and projects the board into the turn, engaging the whole rail and performing nice, satisfying swooping carves. This tail have been honed for years on the Gong flagship "Zero" longboard shape. The Alley has volume more centered: the rail has more volume in the center and the tail rail is very thin, so the board can rock more easily during the turn, allowing the pilot to change the turn trajectory at will, which is necessary for vertical surfing , when you "pinch" the turn to go straight up to the lip. But this means you can also botch your turn if you make mistakes, and it has less trajectory stability in high speed turns.

Of course, things are not black and white. You can surf vertical with the Karmen by moving more your rear foot, and the Alley is still easy to use by non-pro riders, it is not a pro-level-only board (as were the Curve SP previously in the Gong line)

So the Alley is for more advanced riders, as it obeys more swiftly to the pilot orders... but also mistakes. So you have to know how to push a board into high gear with the Alley. But if you want to progress, the Alley can be a very good choice, as it will provide a more obvious feedback to your manoeuvers.

I would recommend the 120 liters version. (Karmen 8'4" or Alley 8'1") for your weight, based on your experience with your current boards.

For the ultimate performance in less than head high surf, the Gong Fatal is also quite impressive. Very stable for its length, incredible accelerations, ultra zippy, but it can become a handful to manage in overhead conditions, and it paddles more slowly than the Karmen or Alley.

Disclaimer: I am a Gong ambassador, and I have not tried the non-Gong boards you cite in your post.

As far as ability to pick up waves goes in relation to volume, I've just moved down to the JP pro 8'1 at 102 litres from circa 112 litres and it picks up waves earlier and better than a few other bigger boards ive had including the hipster 7'10. Yes it's harder work to paddle and doesn't turn quite as fluidly as the twin but it can still chuck a hard turn and flow in waist high waves with little power and just seems to get better and better as the waves turn on.

Reduction in volume has definitely not affected wave catching ability and feels like the rocker and volume distribution are the main factors. Narrow nose, narrow tail and width don't add up to early take off on paper but very different in practice. Really is a mine field!! I've had a few stubby boards around 7'6 and while fun and more stable offer nowhere near the performance. All fun learning!

northy1 said..
Thanks for all the feedback! Unfortunately no demo available so will need to do more desktop research. My biggest concern when looking at a new circa 110/115 litre wave board is losing the ability to pick up smaller (waist to chest) waves as a result of reduced volume..but i assume bottom shape, tail width etc all play a key part here.

You're 100% correct that bottom shape and nose and tail widths / general amounts of rocker/ entry rockers, etc etc play a part in ease of getting into waves.

IN answer to your earlier question regarding the spitfire and hipster twin.
If you did go down to he 7'10 over the 8'0 in the hipster twin, it would be harder to paddle into the wave comparatively.

But then the wider nose tail of the 8'0 hipster would probably be easier than the 8'3 spitfire.

I would say the 7'10 hipster and 8'3 spitfire have a very close ease of entry into the wave.

And to reiterate what the differences between the two are, as I'm constantly switching between the Hipster and spitty depending on the wave conditions.

Noting that in Margaret river most of the waves are comparatively powerful to anywhere else. (plus a variation of deep water bombies where paddle power and length become increasingly important.

But basically. the hollower and more powerful wave I'll be reaching for the spitfire. Although a fast board in it's own right, it can contain higher speed/ vertical (Barreling) walls better. If you really want to push and feel resistance. Drive through your turns. Then this is the spitfire sensation.

The hipster twin will be from the chest to overhead range where acceleration / rail to rail transition / and tightness of arc -without slide) are the appeal when the waves are not as consequential . But tight turning whilst producing drive.

Two different sensations which are both very appealing.

Bother working in a wide range of conditions with the spitfire no slouch when it's small and the hipster still handling some solid juice.

Hi Northy,

Thought I would drop you my thought on your thread- might help? I am 94kg, 6'1" and of a decent standard (but nothing amazing) and all most surf SUPing down in Cornwall, UK. I can only give you my opinion on the SMIK Hipster twin (both the 8' (118l) and 8'6" (134l)) and the JP Surf 9'2" (135L).

Firstly both the Hipster and JP are awesome boards. I originally owned the Hipster 8' and whilst I could surf it and catch waves I found it bit wobbly and when the wind got up I was missing waves (probably more down to ability than the board). Then I sold it and got the JP. This is an awesome board - fast, responsive and a lot of fun.

Whilst this was the case, I just could n't get the feeling on the Hipster Twin out of my head and recently brought the 8'6. Now I know this is probably bigger than you want but I the feel of the Hipster IMO can only be described as 'pure art' in chest to over head high - basically anything bigger I would not want to go out on in beach break beaches. It is stable but get back on the tail and it is fast, loose, responsive and feels so much smaller than 134L board. I don't think there goes a session where I don't say in my head, "I love this board!" about 10 times! As you can tell, I can't speak highly enough of it - and I promise you I am in anyway connect to SMIK, it's just a sick board. I know the 8' shares exactly the same characteristic and is probably even more agile but for me sacrificed the stability (you might be fine though?).

The JP still has a spot in my quiver and I won't sell it but I end up just grabbing the SMIK each time unless like threads above say the waves start getting steeper - but the SMIK is still more than capable from my experience.

Hope I have helped and not created more questions. Give me a shout if you want any further help.

Cheers
CTX1

Check out SUPBOARDER online. They are based down here in Cornwall and have reviewed loads of boards including the SMIK and JP etc. Reuben and Will who run it (and if you subscribe) are happy to answer any questions.

Northy1 mate,
I have had my 9' x 28" hipster twin longboard for just over a year now, and absolutely love it. Pretty much the only board I have surfed in that time, so have had it out in every thing imaginable. It really should look more beaten up, but tough as.
And yes, you can have custom pretty much whatever you want.


The reason I went with the longboard shape was to increase the stability and glide, especially stepping up to the nose with my 100kg. Do not regret it at all. An excellent point break machine, and does most beachies and A frames with ease.
These boards have such a loose flowing feel to them, and can really handle a good steep drop. The tails and the fin set up are magic.
As I gained a better feel for this board and what it can handle with a 6'2" 100kg gorilla at the helm, I thought that maybe some of the risks I was taking may be my undoing in the near future. As they have been in the past. Lol.
So, what better time to be responsible, and have another chat with Scotty.
I love the dimension's of the 8'6" spitty. I know sharpening the nose will make it a little more difficult for fat boy here to stay upright, so 30" in width sounds perfect. 125L volume is bang on for me too. So now I wait.....and yes, I've gone with my favourite blue. Again.

Mock up. Just to tease me........


Will post more when it hits home and the water.......

Eski said..
Hi Mate, I have surfed and owned the 8.0 and 8.6 hipster. They are as the name suggests, SMIK. Turns out of sight, drive and rail to rail, floaters off the lip. Based on your current boards the 7.10 looks relevant, but as an average kook myself I like the comfort of being able to pick up the slightly bigger board after some time out and just have fun - the bigger one allows just that.

I did fine the sweet spot and bias for paddling and picking up a little more forward than other boards, but that appears the design intent with the volume in the nose. As others have described foot back on the tail and you are surfing a much smaller feeling board.

Best of luck
Eski

Hey Eski,
Can I ask your stats? I'm looking at the 8'0" or 8"3" Hipster. 58, 75 kg and 6' here.

Modified for Florida. FCS II clickins with Machado Keels. Naked Twinnie!

Surf FX have them in stock and the boys were frothing about it at the shop when I spoke to them last week